Method and apparatus for continuously gathering fiber



b Jan. 15, 1963 H. N. DEAN 3,073,136

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY GATHERING FIBER Filed Nov. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 i/ze We JV a= a g z IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS H. N- DEAN Jan. 15, 1963 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY GATHERING FIBER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1960 5 INVENTOR. flaw/ 7] 00am BY @efifzro/M ATTORNEY I I I Jan. 15, 1963 H. N. DEAN 3,073,136

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY GATHERING FIBER Filed Nov. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 IN V EN TOR.

3,073,136 United States Patent Ofifice Fag-tented Jam 15, 1963 3,073,136 METHOD AND APPARATUS F031 CONTINUOUSLY GATHERING FHBER Harry N. Dean, Waterville, Ohio, assignor to Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 68,143 12 Claims. (Cl. 653) This invention relates to a continuous glass fiber strand producing device. In a more specific aspect this invention relates to a glass fiber gathering device which presents a pair of constantly changing surfaces to the fibers which are gathered thereby without imparting twist to said fibers.

In a further aspect this invention relates to a device for forming a plurality of continuous glass fibers into strand form, wherein rotatable, coacting curved peripheral surfaces are employed as fiber converging elements.

In another aspect this invention relates to a device for simultaneously gathering into a strand and applying a size to a plurality of spaced continuous fibers; In a still further aspect this invention relates to a method for forming a strand from a plurality of spaced continuous fibers wherein constantly changing surfaces are employed to gather the fibers into strand form.

In still another aspect this invention relates to a method for forming a plurality of spaced glass fibers into a strand and for sizing said fibers, wherein coacting, rotatable curved peripheral surfaces are employed to converge and apply a size to the fibers.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 499,086 filed April 4, 1955,

now abandoned.

in the method of mechanically drawing glass fibers from a plurality of streams of glass, as said streams are caused to flow from a supply body of molten glass, it is customary to group the fibers into strand form prior to winding into a package upon a rapidly rotating forming spool. The rotating spool provides the attenuating force for drawing the multiple streams of glass into very fine fiber form.

Heretofore it has been one practice to draw the fibers together by causing them to converge over the tip of a small felt pad. The felt pad is saturated with a liquid sizing material which minimizes interabrasion between the fibers and the pad. Since the attenuation operation is conducted by moving the fibers at extremely high rates of speed, in the order of 5000 to 10,000 lineal feet per minute, it is obvious that substantial frictional forces are generated between the felt pad and the fibers, as the latter are passed thereover, even when the pad is saturated with lubricant or size. In production operations the felt pads are cut and worn away rapidly and require replacement. Each pad replacement necessitates a temporary stoppage of the forming operation. Thus, each time a pad change is required, production time is lost. Obviously a step forward in the art would be provided by a gathering device which would not impart twist to the fibers and which would permit continuous attenuation extending over periods of months, rather than hours.

Accordingly it is an important object of the present invention to provide a continuous fiber gathering device characterized by long and trouble-free operation.

It is a further object to provide a continuous fiber gathering device employing coacting rounded peripheral surfaces which converge the fibers into strand form in a continuous and trouble-free manner.

Another object is to provide a continuous fiber gathering device wherein coacting and rounded peripheral surfaces are employed to simultaneously gather and size a plurality of spaced continuous fibers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for gathering a plurality of spaced continuous fibers into strand form wherein constantly changing surfaces are employed to gather the fibers.

Another object is to provide a method for forming a plurality of continuous fihers into a strand wherein meeting and counter-rotating peripheral surfaces are adapted to converge the fibers into a strand.

Another object is to provide a method for gathering a plurality of spaced fibers into a strand wherein a pair of coacting peripheral surfaces are employed to simultaneously gather and apply size to the fibers.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are preferably accomplished as follows:

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a glass melting receptacle, having a plurality of orifices through which glass filament-s are exuded, is cooperatively disposed with'a winding tube to advance the filaments in a substantially straight path. A pair of overlapping and counter-rotating elements tangentially contact the filaments and cause them to converge into a strand at a fiber gathering zone defined by the intersectionof the elements. The contacting and non-abrasive surfaces of the elements are curved in the direction of travel of the filament in order to minimize friction and abrading of the filaments. Since the arrangement of the receptacle and the winding tube define the path of travel of the filaments, the elements do not support the filaments but merely serve to restrict the lateral spread of and thus converge the filaments.

- I am aware that Patent No. 1,030,179 discloses a series of intermeshing and commonly rotating elements forming seat to support thread to be twisted by rotation of the elements.

I am further aware that Patent No. 2,398,516 discloses two groups of rotating discs of varying diameters disposed on horizontal axes for picking up treating fluid and applying the fluid to a thread. The groups are disposed in staggered and overlapped spaced relation. As a result, a line connecting the points of intersection of each successive pair of adjacent discs is a curved line. I am also aware that Patent No. 2,359,568 discloses a plurality of abrasive discs arranged in pairs, with each disc of a pair being disposed on one side of the strand being cleaned in mutually opposing relation with the'other of said pair.

This invention is distinguished as follows:

Glass filaments as they are initially formed have a theoretical tensile strength of one million pounds per square inch. The least amount of surface abrasion will reduce the tensile strength as much a fifty percent. It is therefore important to provide an arrangement for forming strand from the filaments which will minimize contact of the filaments with other materials and which will minimize deformation of the filament surfaces.

The present invention solves the problem of filament surface deformation by providing method and apparatus.

which obviates twisting of filaments and wherein the filaments are converged in a zone defined by the intersection of non-abrasive and curved peripheral surfaces of a pair of rotating elements. While the filaments are in tan gential contact with the peripheral surfaces they are not supported by the rotating elements. The elements defining the converging zone also rotate counter to each other to deter twisting of the filaments. The relation of the glass filament source with the point at which tension is applied to attenuate the filaments causes the filaments to follow a substantially straight path and rotating elements merely reduce the lateral displacement of the filaments and cause them to converge into a strand.

The novel features considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar numerals are employed to designate similar parts throughout and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fiber gathering device of the present invention showing the device disposed in fiber-gathering position between a molten glass container and a strand package;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the gathering device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the gathering device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of coacting frustums as fiber gathering elements;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present'invention illustrating a pair of coacting spheres as fiber gathering elements;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of coacting cylinders as fiber gathering elements; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of coacting cones as fiber gathering elements.

As shown on the drawings, numeral 10 designates a support stand upon which the fiber gathering apparatus 11 of the present invention is adapted to be adjustably As shown in glass receptacle having a plurality of small apertures 13 in the bottom thereof, through which molten streams of glass are exuded from a supply body of molten glass maintained in the receptacle. The fibers 14 formed from the streams of glass are attenuated and are caused to converge into a strand 15 by the fiber gathering apparatusTll, to be subsequently described. The strand is wound upon a rapidly rotating tube 16 and by means of a traverser 17 is caused to be laid on the tube in a uniform manner to form a package 18.

v The stand 10 includes a base 19 and an upright U- channel member 20 extending upwardly therefrom, and secured at its lower end to the rearward edge of the base member. A brace 21, suitably fabricated of U-channel stock, extends from the forward portion of base member 19, upwardly and rearwardly and is secured at its upper end to a medial portion of upright 20. The upper half of upright 20 is provided with an elongated and vertically disposed adjustment slot 22.

A mounting unit 23 for the fiber gathering apparatus 11 is adapted to be adjustably secured to the upper portion of upright 20 of stand 10. The mounting unit 23 includes afirst plate 24, which, as better shown in the elevational view of FIG. 5, is of generally rectangular configuration. As shown in FIG. 6, plate 24 is provided in its upper central portionwith an internally threaded hole '25. A bolt 26 is passed through the slot 22 of upright 20 and is threaded into the hole of plate 24. The lower portion of plate 24 is provided with an arcuate slot 27. A bolt. and nut unit 28 is assembled through slot 22 of upright 20 and the arcuate slot 27 of plate 24 to secure the plate in adjusted relation with respect to the upright.

A pair of antifriction bearing units 29 are secured by bolts 30 near the upper edge of plate 24 on the side of the plate opposite the upright 20 of support stand 10. Bearing units 29 are axially aligned and located a suffieient distance apart for positioning a portion of a secorid support plate 31 therebetween.

'As best shown in FIG. 3, the second plate 31 is of L ing plate.

unit 32 terminates at each of its ends in a stub shaft 33.

The terminal edge of the L-shaped base plate 31 is apertured and bolts 34 are passed through the apertures and into threaded holes in the square section of the shaft unit 32 to secure the shaft unit and L-shaped support plate together. The stub shafts 33 are placed in the bores of the aforementioned bearing units 29, secured to plate member 24, and thus the L-shaped support plate 31 is adapted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bracket arm 35 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the lower edge of support plate 24. An elongated slot 36 is provided in the bracket 35, and by means of a bolt 37, secured near the outer edge of the base of the L-shaped bracket, is adapted to retain the L-shaped member 31 in adjusted relation with respect to the support plate 24.

The L-shaped plate 31 forms the support upon which a pair of coacting fiber gathering elements are rotatably supported. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, these elements are in the form of wheels 38 and 39 which are rotatably journaled in fiber-gathering relation. Plate 31 also supports a ratio motor unit 40, FIG. 1, and an idler sprocket 41 for a chain 42 connecting the motor unit and wheels in rotatable relation. As shown in FIG. 3, the wheels 38 and 39 are disposed in overlapping, peripheral relation near the outer end of the arm 43 of the L-shaped plate 31. As shown in FIG. 4, which section is characteristic of each of the wheels 38 and 39, the wheel 38 comprises an annular disk 44, provided at its center with a threaded hole 45. A tire 46, fabricated of rubber or of a suitable synthetic resin, as will hereinafter be more fully described, is secured on the periphery of wheel 38, and is retained in position by means of a rib 47 which fitsinto a groove 48, formed on the periphery of the disk 44. A shaft 49 having a terminal thread portion 50 is threaded into the hole 45 of disk 44 and passes through a hollow spacer 51 and thence through an aperture 52 formed in plate 31. At its lower end the projecting portion of shaft 49 is provided with a sprocket wheel 53, secured thereto as by means of a set screw. The other wheel 39, FIG. 3, is mounted in a manner similar to Wheel 38, except that its spacer unit 54 is longer than the spacer 51 of wheel 38, so that wheel 39 is juxtaposed in overlapping peripheral relation above wheel 38.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ratio motor unit 40 is mounted at the left-hand end of L-shaped plate 31 and is provided with a drive shaft 55, which extends beneath the mount- FIG. 3 shows the idler sprocket 41, rotatably journaled on a nut and bolt unit 56, secured in an aperture (not shown) in plate 31, located intermediate sprocket 57 of ratio motor unit 40 and sprocket wheels 53 and 58 of gathering wheels 38 and 39. All of the sprocket wheels are in planar alignment and are operably connected by means of the drive chain 42, by which wheels 38 and 39 are driven in counter-rotating relation so as to deter imparting twist to the fibers 14.

It will be understood that the fibers 14 and resulting strand 15 are retained in their path from the receptacle 12 to the take-up tube 16 by the tension force exerted by the rotation of the tube 16. This same tensional force also deters twisting of the individual fibers. This tensional force may be supplemented by interposing an element in the path of the strand intermediate the receptacle 12 and the fiber gathering device 11. This element may be in the form of a belt-type applicator as disclosed in the copending and commonly assigned US. application Serial No. 520,523, now Patent No. 2,968,278, or other elongated means, such as a lubricated bar member, with which the fibers may be brought into tangential contact.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vessel 59 is provided which is adapted to contain a supply of liquid size material. Conduit tubes 66 and 61 are connected to vessel 59 in fluid conducting relation and have their free ends 62 and 63 positioned respectively adjacent the peripheries of wheels 38 and 39 to thereby conduct liquid size from vessel 59 and deposit it on the wheels. Valves (not shown) or other suitable control devices are connected to conduits 60 and 61 to control and meter the flow of size from vessel 59. By so operating, the fibers 14 can be gathered into a strand and also be simultaneously coated with size in a single operation.

As shown in the perspective views provided by FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, frustums, spheres, cylinders and cones provide different embodiments of the present invention. Each of the embodiments present a surface curved in the direction of the strand path to minimize contact and concomitant abrasion.

In FIG. 7 a pair of frustums are shown in perspective,

with their axes disposed in angular relationship with respect to each other. More specifically, a first .frustum 64 is arranged with its axis in a substantially horizontal. plane. The frustum 64 is mounted upon a shaft 65, suitably supported in antifriction bearings (not shown). A second frustum 66 is disposed immediately beneath the first frustum 64, and is similarly provided with a support shaft 67 also rotatably journaled upon suitable antifriction bearings (not shown). Each of the shafts 65 and 67 is adapted to be connected to a source of power, in a manner analogous to that disclosed in the embodiment hereinbefore described, employing coacting wheels. It will be seen that the fibers 14 are moved downwardly and caused to be converged into strand form at the intersection between the peripheral surfaces of the coacting frustums 64 and 66. As shown by reference numeral 68, applicators are provided whereby a sizing material or lubricant as desired may be applied to the peripheral surfaces of the frustums to give a lubricating effect and thereby reduce abrasive action between the fibers and the frustum surfaces. In addition to the axial relation of frustums 64 and 66, as shown, it is to be considered within.

the scope of the present invention to employ any angular axial relationship wherein a fiber gathering configuration of the surfaces of the frustums is provided. Such configuration would include the positioning, for example of frustum 64 in a vertically axial position so that the fibers sweep longitudinally downward over a more extended area of the frustum. Frustum 66 could also be disposed in a substantially vertical axial position so that its base periphery 69, in inverted position, could partially overlap and be juxtaposed immediately beneath the base periphery of frustum 64, typified by the coacting relationship of the wheels 33 and 39 as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of coacting spheres are arranged in fiber gathering relationship. A first sphere 7 is provided with a shaft 71, which shaft is rotatably journaled in a substantially horizontal plane by means of suitable antifriction bearings (not shown); A second sphere 72 is disposed with its periphery in juxtaposed relation beneath the periphery of sphere 70. The second sphere 72 is similarly provided with a shaft 73, mounted upon suitable antifriction bearings (not shown) and each of the shafts is adapted to be connected to a power source for corotation or counter-rotation as desired. As shown by the spouts 68, a lubricant or size may be applied to the surfaces of the spheres to reduce frictional forces which may be generated between the fibers 14 and the surfaces of spheres 70 and 72.

As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of horizontally arranged and coacting cylinders 74 and 75 are supported in space in a manner analogous to the description above, relating to the use of frustums as fiber gathering elements. In this embodiment a first cylinder 74 is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and is provided with a shaft 76 which is adapted to be rotatably journaled in suitable antifriction bearings as illustrated by the reference numeral 77. The second cylinder 75 is disposed in rotatable relation immediately beneath the first cylinder 74 and is provided with a shaft 78 to be mounted in antifriction bearings, not shown. The axis of the second cylinder, for illustrative purposes, has been shown as being disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and in perpendicular relation to the axis of the first cylinder 74. In this embodiment, provision can be made formoving the cylinders in reciprocating fashion longitudinally to distribute surface contact of the fibers evenly over the surfaces of the cylinders.

In FIG. 10 a pair of coacting cones are shown in perspective with their axes in angular relationship with each other. The first cone 79 is mounted upon a support shaft 80 and is arranged in a generally horizontal plane. A second cone 81 is disposed immediately beneath the first cone and is similarly mounted upon a support shaft 82. Each of the shafts 80 and 82 is suitably supported in anti-friction bearings (not shown) and is adapted to be connected to a source of power, in a manner analogous to that disclosed in the embodiments hereinbefore described. The fibers 14' are moved downwardly and are caused to be converged into strand form at the intersection of the peripheral surfaces of the coacting cones 79 and 81. Applicators 68 are provided as in the previous embodiments for supplying a size or lubricant as desired to the peripheral surfaces of the cones. In addition to the axial relation of the cones as shown, it is to be considered within the scope of the invention to employ other angular relationships between the cones, as set forth above in the description of FIG. 7, relating to a pair of coacting frustums.

As may be observed in each of the illustrated embodiments, the surfaces with which the fibers are converged are preferably curved in the direction of fiber travel. Such an arrangement minimizes contact of the surfaces with and consequently abrasion of the fibers.

It is to be regarded within the scope of the present invention that in each of the embodiments described, the axial relationship of the fiber gathering elements can be varied over a broad range so long as the fiber gathering and twist deterring relation of their peripheral surfaces is retained.

In the embodiments of the invention employing wheels as the fiber gathering elements, the tires or peripheries of the wheels were formed of a synthetic rubber material designated in the trade as Hycar, having a durometer hardness of 80. This material, according to Zimmerman and Lavine, Handbook of Material Trade Names (1946), p. 219, is an emulsion polymerized rubber made by the copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene with either acrylonitrile or styrene.

Thesynthetic resins are also applicable to use for forming the peripheral surfaces of the present inven tion. Such resins include the thermosetting materials as well as the thermoplastics. Among the thermosetting materials which may be used are included the polyesters, alkyds, the phenol aldehydes, urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde and the like, which are capable of being cured to a hard solid state to provide smooth, wear and corrosion resistant surfaces. Thermoplastic resins such as unplasticized nylon, polystyrene, the various cellulose derivatives including cellulose acetate and cellulose butyrate, polyethylene, and others are also applicable.

Also corrosion resistant metals such as brass, bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, chromium plated materials and the like can be used. Graphite, boron nitride and molybdenum disulfide may also be employed. Molybdenum disulfide may be especially advantageous in view of its inherent lubricating properties, whereby the delicate glass fibers would be enabled to pass freely over asurface made from this material.

While the speed of rotation of the fiber gathering sur faces has not been determined under all conditions of operation, it is not believed that the rotation is limited to any given speed range, except that which would obviously be so high as to throw the liquid size or lubricant into the fibers at such a high velocity as to cause fracture thereof. In the embodiment described above wherein coacting wheel peripheries are employed as fiber gathering elements, it was found that an operating speed for the peripheral surfaces of 50 lineal feet per minute gave satisfactory, continuous and trouble-free operation. The principal purpose of the rotation of the fiber gathering elements is to assure that all parts of the surfaces are presented to contact the fibers and thereby be uniformly utilized. Thus it is desirable that suflicient movement is provided to prevent the fibers from wearing grooves or the like in such peripheral surfaces. The principal purpose of counter-rotation of the fiber gathering elements is to deter twisting of the filament.

As shown in each of the embodiments, a means of applying a lubricant or size to the peripheral gathering surfaces has been provided. Thus it is Within the purview of the present invention to provide a combination size application and gathering operation. sired, a separate size applicator, such as disclosed in the previously referred to application Serial No. 520,523, may be interposed between the present gathering. device and the liquid glass container to suitably coat the fibers prior to their formation into a strand. Such size application can be effected by sprays, doctor rolls or other suitable means. It is to be considered within the scope of the present invention, however, especially when employing such materials as molybdenum disulfide and perhaps boron nitride as the peripheral surface agent, that no extraneous lubricant may need be applied.

It is also to be considered within the scope of this invention to employ more than two coacting, fiber-gathering elements in the manner of operation which has been described above, where such elements are disposed in cooperative fiber gathering relation.

What I claim:

1. The method asv defined in claim 12 which further comprises: moving said surfaces in a direction transverse to the path of travel of said fibers. 1

V 2. A method for forming a glass fiber strand, compris: ing in combination: providing a plurality of filaments of molten glass; applying an atttenuating force to said filaments to draw them into continuous fibers and advance them along a longitudinal path; and converging said filaments into a single strand in a filament gathering zone defined by the intersection of a pair of curved surfaces spaced apart in a direction along said path, while one of said curved surfaces is rotated in a first direction and the other of said curved surfaces is rotated in a counter direction.

3. A method for forming a glass fiber strand, compris ing in combination: providing a plurality of filaments of molten glass; applying an attenuating force to said filaments'to draw them into continuous fibers and advance Also, if do them along a path; transferring a liquid sizing material to said fibers as they are advanced along said path by guiding them into an intersection between the peripheries of a pair of counter-rotating bodies spaced apart in a direction along said path; and collecting said strand.

4. A method for forming a plurality of continuous fibers into a' strand comprising, providing a plurality of continuous fibers, moving said fibers, along a longitudinal path and tangential to the peripheral surface of each of a pair of rotating curved surfaces in sequential order and in fiber gathering relationship to converge saidv fibers into a strand, and collecting said strand.

5. Apparatus for forming a glass fiber strand, comprising in combination: a glass melting receptacle having a plurality of orifices through which glass is exuded to form exudations; means for applying a force to said eiiudations for attenuation into filaments, said receptacle and said means being disposed to cause said filaments to follow .a longitudinal path; a pair of rotatable elements, each having a peripheral surface curved in the direction of said path, one'of said elements being positioned to overlap a portion of the other of said elements, when viewed in plan, each of said elements also being arranged to have its peripheral surface in tangential contact with said filaments and to define a filament gathering zone with the otherof said elements; and means for rotating said elements in counter-rotating relation to deter twisting" of said filaments.

, 6. The apparatus as described in claim 5, which furthercomprises means for rotating each of said elements, one in a clockwise direction and the other in a counterclockwise direction.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said I elements are in the form of discs having their peripheries founded.

8LTh'e apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein sai elements are in the form of spheres.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said elements are in the. form of cones.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said elements are in the form of truncated cones.

L1. The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said elements are in the form of cylinders.

12. The method of forming a glass fiber strand which comprises, in combination: providing a plurality of continuous glass fibers; advancing said fibers in spaced relation and in a generally longitudinal path; engaging said fibers with at least two separate and moving curved surfaces spaced apart in a direction along said path but in fiber gathering relationship to form a strand; and collecting, said strand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,224,149 Fisher Dec. 10, 1940 2,373,078 Kleist Apr. 3, 1945 2,380,373- Alderfer July 31, 1945 2,523,338 Snider -a Sept. 26, 1950 2,625,498 Koch Jan. 13, 1953 2,938,821 Nack May 31, 1960 2,976,580 R-iedel Mar. 28, 1961 

5. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A GLASS FIBER STRAND, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A GLASS MELTING RECEPTACLE HAVING A PLURALITY OF ORIFICES THROUGH WHICH GLASS IS EXUDED TO FORM EXUDATIONS; MEANS FOR APPLYING A FORCE TO SAID EXUDATIONS FOR ATTENUATION INTO FILAMENTS, SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAID MEANS BEING DISPOSED TO CAUSE SAID FILAMENTS TO FOLLOW A LONGITUDINAL PATH; A PAIR OF ROTATABLE ELEMENTS, EACH HAVING A PERIPHERAL SURFACE CURVED IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID PATH, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING POSITIONED TO OVERLAP A PORTION OF THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS, WHEN VIEWED IN PLAN, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS ALSO BEING ARRANGED TO HAVE ITS PERIPHERAL SURFACE IN TANGENTIAL CONTACT WITH SAID FILAMENTS AND TO DEFINE A FILAMENT GATHERING ZONE WITH THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS; AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ELEMENTS IN COUNTER-ROTATING RELATION TO DETER TWISTING OF SAID FILAMENTS.
 12. THE METHOD OF FORMING A GLASS FIBER STRAND WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION: PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF CONTINUOUS GLASS FIBERS; ADVANCING SAID FIBERS IN SPACED RELATION AND IN A GENERALLY LONGITUDINAL PATH; ENGAGING SAID FIBERS WITH AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE AND MOVING CURVED SURFACES SPACED APART IN A DIRECTION ALONG SAID PATH BUT IN FIBER GATHERING RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A STRAND; AND COLLECTING SAID STRAND. 